UAE flights delayed by storms across US Midwest

DUBAI // The deadly storms that have affected the United States in recent days have caused delays to passengers flying to and from the UAE.

Floods and tornadoes in the southern and midwestern states killed at least 43 people during the Christmas holidays, with forecasters warning blizzards and freezing rain could add to the misery.

Passengers on Emirates flight EK212 from Houston to Dubai were delayed by more than 28 hours because of the knock-on effect of delays to other flights.

Bad weather also led to Emirates flight EK211 from Dubai to Houston on December 27 being diverted to Austin.

After refuelling, the flight departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for Houston at 2.20am, which meant crew rotational requirements delayed the return flight to Dubai the following day.

More than 1,100 US flights were cancelled and a further 1,650 delayed on Monday morning, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Airports were already overwhelmed by frustrated travellers after some 1,640 flights were scrapped and more than 6,400 delayed Sunday as the storm system essentially shut down airports in Texas.